Exclusive Tour: Inside TSMC’s Cutting-Edge Arizona Chip Plant

A Rare Look Inside the TSMC Arizona Plant

TSMC's US Expansion:

• Apple played a crucial role in TSMC setting up chipmaking plants in the US, both by being an early customer and lobbying for CHIPS Act funding.
• The first 'Made in America' Apple chips were announced in 2022, marking a significant achievement of the US CHIPS Act.
• TSMC is building multiple facilities in Arizona, with some production reserved for Apple chips. The company recently started construction on its third US plant, and Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed pride at being the first customer.

Secrecy and Security:

• TSMC maintains strict secrecy around its chipmaking processes to stay ahead of competitors. Visitors are not allowed to bring electronic devices or paper into the facility.
• The Arizona plants closely mirror those in Taiwan, with highly advanced clean rooms and complex machinery for precise manufacturing.

Manufacturing Process:

• The chipmaking process is intricate and time-consuming, taking months and involving thousands of operations. Each wafer contains 10 to 14 trillion transistors.
• Workers must gown up in protective clothing before entering the cleanest environments on Earth to prevent contamination.

Future Plans:

• TSMC aims to accelerate development, eventually producing chips for products around three generations old instead of the current 4-5 years.